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The Nile Valley Travel Guide

The Nile Valley
Aman-Ra, Karnak
The Nile River has been the lifeblood of Egypt for thousands of years. The narrow fertile strip on either side lies in stark contrast to the desert wasteland beyond. Annual flooding of the Nile and the deposit of silt on its banks has resulted in layers of previous settlements that have been discovered underneath almost every town and village in the valley. Excavations have revealed thousands of tombs, temples and monuments along the banks of the river, and the best places to explore some of these relics are from the small towns of Luxor and Aswan.



Resorts

See our separate guides to the following The Nile Valley holiday resorts: Luxor and Aswan


Attractions

Nubian Museum

This museum in Aswan is an excellent introduction to the history and culture of the Nubians. It contains a collection of artefacts from Nubia (the region approximately between Aswan and Khartoum in Sudan) and an exhibition of Nubian culture and crafts. It also portrays... see full details


Temple of Karnak

The main place of worship in Theban times and built over a period of 1,300 years, the massive Temple of Karnak in Luxor is an incredibly impressive structure. One of the world's great architectural achievements, the Hypostyle Hall, is filled with immense stone pillars... see full details


West Bank

The West Bank is an area of limestone hills and valleys riddled with tombs and temples across the river from Luxor. Goats roam freely among the ruins, and the tiny settlements on the slopes provide a splash of colour in an otherwise desert-like... see full details



Excursions

Abu Simbel

The two temples of Abu Simbel, the Temple of Ramses II and the temple of Hathor (the Sun God) dedicated to his wife Nefertari, were cut out of the sandstone cliffs more than 3,000 years ago. Not only are these temples among the... see full details



Events


Temple of Hathor, Abu Simbel

Abu Simbel Festival

The festival takes place twice a year, in February and October, in celebration of Ramses II's birthday. When Ramses II built his temple he carefully positioned it so that on his birthday and during the sun solstices the inner sanctum would become lit, the rising sun gradually illuminating the statues of Ramses, Ra and Amun, while the god of darkness, Ptah, remains in shadow. Before sunrise the temple becomes packed with people waiting to witness the spectacular show. The outside celebrations include music, dancing, markets, and food and drink stalls.

Venue: The Temple of Abu Simbel
Date: 22 October 2008
Time: Sunrise


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